MovieChat Forums > Fried Green Tomatoes (1992) Discussion > Bugs me every time...

Bugs me every time...

posted 10 years ago by Beau29
16 replies | jump to latest

I've seen this movie many times and one particular scene bugs me every single time I see it:

Ruth is teaching a group of children on the porch, while another bunch of kids is playing by the train tracks.
She hears the other kids screaming the name of her own son, Buddy. The screams are frightening enough to bring Idgie, Big George and the other adults running. Ruth is shown sitting there looking blank and stupid with her mouth hanging open, as the others run to the rescue of her child.

I hate that scene. Am I wrong in thinking that no mother would sit like a stone while her child is in danger?

[–] InsecureNeuroticControlFreak 10 years ago

I honestly have never liked Mary-Louise's performance as Ruth. She plays her dopey and half-retarded.

This is gonna *beep* do for him what "Jade" did for David Caruso.

[–] cocacolaistherealthing 10 years ago

I agree! It seems like she was wide eyed and open mouthed the entire show.

[–] SarahRose 10 years ago

Dopey! That's the perfect word.

[–] cadeduelg 10 years ago

Spoiler.
.
.

She was having a flashback to years before, when Idgie's brother Buddy, Ruth's boyfriend, had been caught on train tracks and was killed.

[–] truetexian 10 years ago

That's exactly why she reacted the way that she did. It's overly critical to assume that a mother could or would rush to witness something that was easier for others to view. Add to that, she had been an eye-witness to Buddy's gruesome accident and it's a no-brainer.

[–] BunnyCake 10 years ago

In the book Ruth never knew Buddy. He died before Ruth entered the Threadgood family's lives.

These kids today, with their hula hoops and fax machines.

[–] norman-dostal 8 years ago

Interesting but irrelevant here

[–] Kragey 10 years ago

I agree with cadeduelg: I always thought she was flashing back to her former fiance's traumatic death and just froze. A healthy parent would probably run to save their child, but untreated PTSD can do strange things to people.

You're a sexual Disneyland.

[–] december_roses 10 years ago

You never know what you'd do in a situation like that. Some people are paralyzed in situations like that. Even as much as they want to, they're physically incapable of it

[–] Pmdmnym 10 years ago

Exactly. She was probably praying it wasn't happening. and could not get her legs to move.

[–] funkybuttlover 9 years ago

People react different to situations. My daughter is the most calm, rational person in emergencies and puts everyone else at ease. I on the other hand run around like a chicken with its head cut off and lose all my common sense.

[–] wstock70 9 years ago

Bad edit in filmmaking.

[–] jfd0210 9 years ago

I agree with you, it is the editing.
I just watched part of the movie the other night (on tv, and it was horribly edited for commercials) and saw this scene.
Part of the reason it looks so odd is because not only Ruth stands there, but the children she is teaching just sit there.
If someone was screaming, they would all be looking toward the screams and what is going on, or even getting out of their chairs.
If Ruth only was standing there, I would think she was just in shock (unlike others, I like her performance, and don't think she plays it "dopey."), but since everyone in camera ranges seems oblivious, I think it is the editing.
That said, I still love this movie.

[–] oldpinkfloyd-53-293340 9 years ago

I don't get what everyone is saying?
Sure, she stood there for a second or two, with a sort of a shocked look, but then she ran off the porch, and was shown in the next scene with everyone else, helping little Buddy?
From what everyone is saying here, it makes you think Ruth just stood on the porch and did nothing, which wasn't true, it just took that extra second ti react.

[–] OldFriendOfTheChristys 9 years ago

I've seen this movie many times and one particular scene bugs me every single time I see it:

Ruth is teaching a group of children on the porch, while another bunch of kids is playing by the train tracks.
She hears the other kids screaming the name of her own son, Buddy. The screams are frightening enough to bring Idgie, Big George and the other adults running. Ruth is shown sitting there looking blank and stupid with her mouth hanging open, as the others run to the rescue of her child.

I hate that scene. Am I wrong in thinking that no mother would sit like a stone while her child is in danger?

The scene definitely doesn't ring true, I agree.